DPMM FC coach stresses importance of recovery

April 17, 2018

| Fadhil Yunus |

DPMM FC head coach Rene Weber has stressed the importance of training in moderation to allow ample time for recovery, mainly for the first-team squad, ahead of the match against Geylang International FC in the Singapore Premier League at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium tonight.

The Gegar Gegar men only had 72 hours to recover from their last match against Albirex Niigata (S) last Saturday.

“We know the player(s) will be fully recovered after 72 hours. Today we just made tactical training and move not so strongly. We must always conserve energy before games,” Weber said in an interview at the Jerudong Mini Stadium yesterday.

“We take up position and set-piece balls and there is no time to make strong training. Tomorrow, I hope that we can play to our optimum,” said Weber.

He also added that the reserves who play a bit-part role should be constantly training as inactivity will cause them to worsen their condition.

“We need the whole group in a full squad. Though they don’t play on Saturday and do nothing on Sunday, they must train. If they don’t train, they lose fitness in the season.

DPMM FC players in a training session. – FADHIL YUNUS

“The players who play (and start) will take part in recovery training where they will rehearse on position while another set of players will need to be ready when you need them.”

The Brazilian believes that his charges only began to move better after 15 minutes of play during the defeat at the Jurong East Stadium last Saturday.

“We already talked about what happened and after the game was postponed for half an hour, we lost concentration in the beginning.

“We just started playing after 15 minutes. We don’t find the right moment touching the ball.”

Weber acknowledged Albirex as a “strong opponent” as he starts to get a grip on the difficulty of the reigning holders.

The head coach also said that there are no “easy games” in the league despite their next opponents’ current predicament where they slumped to bottom in the table after three winless games.

DPMM FC defender Brian McLean could return straight to the starting line-up after missing out on the defeat against Albirex due to an injury he sustained against Home United FC.

The Brunei-based outfit are without a win in eight meetings against the Eagles in all competitions with their last victory coming in August 2015.